Adam and Grace McCann (age four and seven) were kitted out to support their aunt, Sinead Goldrick.

Sinead - or Goldie as she is affectionately known by her teammates - captained the team last year.

Adam and Grace's dad, Conor McCann, told the Herald that, on the day, Cork simply had the edge. "I think Cork were the better side - and you can't really expect Dublin to win if they kick so many wides. There's not much more I can say on it, really," he said.

"You obviously go in thinking they can do it, but afterwards you look at it and can see that Cork took their chances."

"We go to all the games, so we see the quality week-in week-out," he said.

The hordes of fans who turned out to cheer on both teams showed that the ladies' game was growing in popularity.

Niamh McEvoy's brother David was already optimistic about next season for his sister and her fellow Jackies.

"Last year, you'd probably say that they threw the game away, they were so far ahead, but this year it was a much closer contest and a better game of football," he said.

"It was a travesty being 10 points clear with so little time left.

"It was a lot closer this time from start to finish and wasn't half as painful as last year, when you think you have it in the bag with five or six minutes to go," he added.

"I think they'll have a few drinks, pick themselves up and go for it again next year.

"They're a very young team. There's only two or three over the age of 24, they're all students so they can only get better if they stay together and build on it from there," he said.

Tanaiste Joan Burton turned out to support the team and was quick to weigh in on the performance of both teams.

"I think Cork were the better team today, but Dublin played really valiantly and - at the end of the day - they missed a few opportunities.

"There probably wasn't enough people down at the goalmouth when they were trying to score," she said.

Delighted

Meanwhile, her Dail colleague Micheal Martin, leader of Fianna Fail, was delighted with his home county's win - their tenth in 11 seasons.

"It was a fantastic result for Cork and a very exciting game."

"It was a very pacey, speedy game - both teams clearly have a high level of fitness.

"Dublin put in an outstanding game, but [Cork] are just phenomenal and they're producing young players all the time," he added.